Uthandi residents raise concerns over ₹91-crore flood canal project, flag environmental and groundwater risks

Residents of VGP Layout in Uthandi have raised concerns over the proposed Straight-Cut Flood Escape Channel project by the Water Resources Department (WRD), warning that it could cause significant environmental damage and impact critical groundwater resources. 

The ₹91-crore project is intended to tackle recurring flooding in south Chennai, especially in low-lying areas around the Pallikaranai marsh. It involves constructing a 1.05-kilometre canal linking the Buckingham Canal to the Bay of Bengal at Uthandi, with a planned discharge capacity of up to 550 cusecs.